Perspective

The other night, I walked out to the mailbox to get our mail.
I had forgotten to get the mail earlier that afternoon.
I didn’t want it to sit in the mailbox all night long.

I bundled up, since the temperature has been in the single digits.
The moon was incredibly bright…almost full.
It lit up the driveway and the front lawn.
The shadows of the trees were beautiful silhouettes against the sky.

The sky was crystal clear.
You could count every star.
I thought of the connect the dots pages I enjoyed doing when I was a little girl.
With my finger, I could connect the dots in the sky…from star to star.

I remember another such night…years ago.

The children were little and already in bed.
My husband had gone to bed and I was the only one up.
I was locking up, turning off the lights, getting ready to go upstairs.
Then, I remembered it was trash day in the morning.

I bundled up, since it was a cold January night.
It had snowed a few days before.
Our driveway had been plowed…our walkways shoveled.
No need for boots!

Our trash company supplies all of their customers with large, rolling trash cans.
They can be quite heavy as you pull them up the driveway.
I opened the garage door and turned on the lights that I had just turned off.
I put today’s trash bag in there as well and began to pull the large trash can to the curb.

Since it can be heavy, it is best to pull the trash can behind you.
As quick as a flash, I found myself flat on the driveway.
The large trash can on top of me.
Black ice, that is impossible to see, had caused me to lose my footing.

I could feel the warm tears on my face.
I could feel the self-pity rising in my throat.

This is not my job!
It is too late to be doing this!
It is much too cold!
No one will even hear me if I called to them!
No one knows that I am out here!

I had to find a way to get the trash can off my back and stand up…black ice and all.

I successfully got the trash can upright…needing to pick up some bags that had fallen out.
I was trying very hard not to fall again…not seeing well between the tears.

Then I happened to look up!
Way up…above me…into the spectacular night sky!
A full moon…a crystal clear sky…with no trace of a cloud.
I could count every star!
I found myself…on my knees…on the driveway.

I was so small in comparison to the vastness of the heavens.
The expanse of the sky overwhelmed me!

The God who created this nighttime beauty…created me.
The God who holds the stars in place…who keeps the earth spinning…holds me.
The God who knows each star by name…has my name engraved in the palm of His hand.

Suddenly, the self pity vanished.
I stood up straighter than ever.
My perspective changed.

I have thought of that incident many times.
When I need a change of perspective, I read Psalm 73.
The Psalmist needed a change of perspective.

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man…This is what the wicked are like – always carefree, they increase in wealth. Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain I washed my hands in innocence…When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely You put them on slippery ground; You cast them down to ruin…Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You…But as for me, it is good to be near God.
(Psalm 73:2-5,12,13,16-18,23-25, 28)

There on my knees…on my driveway…in the night…I worshiped.

I was annoyed, frustrated, cold, sore…TILL…I looked up and saw His majesty.
A needed change of perspective.
In the stillness of the cold January night, God graciously met me.

Aren’t we all under the weight of something?
Look up!
Get a new perspective!
Fall on your knees…and worship!

 

 

2 responses to “Perspective”

1. Thank you Gina. A word when one was needed. How great is our God!

   Reply

   • Cinda,
     I should not be amazed when God does something like that…but I always am!
     I hope God will open up a time for us to catch up…face to face.
     You are missed.
     Gina

     Reply